IHS Director's Corner Dr. Yvette Roubideaux - Indian Health Service Director
Director's Blog
Southcentral Foundation Valley Native Primary Care Center Opening
Posted on September 27, 2012
Southcentral Foundation celebrated the opening of its Valley Native Primary Care Center in Wasilla, AK, in August. The facility was constructed by the Tribe under a Joint Venture Construction agreement with the Indian Health Service. Here are pictures from the opening:
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HHS Secretary Trip to South Dakota
Posted on September 27, 2012
Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius led a delegation on a trip to South Dakota. The Secretary visited sites that included Indian Health Service, Administration for Children and Families, and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration programs and also met with the Pine Ridge, Rosebud Sioux, and Cheyenne River Sioux Tribes. Here are pictures from the visit:
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IHS Tucson Area Listening Session
Posted on September 27, 2012
I held a listening session with the IHS Tucson Area in August in Tucson after the Direct Service Tribes Annual conference. Here are pictures from the meeting:
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Direct Service Tribes Annual Conference
Posted on September 27, 2012
The Direct Service Tribes Annual Conference was held in August in Tucson, AZ. The meeting provided a forum for Tribes who are served by facilities managed directly by the IHS to hear updates, discuss progress on agency priorities, and discuss key health issues. The meeting included plenary sessions, workshops, and Area caucus sessions. I also held Tribal Delegation Meetings with the Rosebud Sioux Tribe and the Warm Springs Tribe. The Carol Ann Heart Spirit Award was given to Direct Service Tribes Advisory Group Chair Sandra Ortega. Here are pictures from the meeting:
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Contract Support Costs Consultation Update
Posted on September 26, 2012
Today we are sending a letter to Tribes to provide an update on our consultation on Contract Support Costs and to request input on identified issues. Here is a copy of the letter [PDF - 45KB].
I Strengthen My Nation Campaign
Posted on September 26, 2012
The Indian Health Service (IHS) Division of Behavioral Health (DBH) has partnered with the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board to develop and launch a national campaign focused on substance abuse prevention entitled "I Strengthen My Nation." This national prevention campaign includes culturally relevant materials designed in collaboration with American Indian and Alaska Native youth. These materials highlight the strengths of youth who reject the use of alcohol and other substances, and consist of fact sheets, brochures, posters, public service announcements, t-shirts, lanyards, and window clings. The youth who participated in the development of this campaign did so in the hopes that these messages will promote resilience, healthy behaviors, and new social norms. Further information from the "I Strengthen My Nation" national campaign, including the images created, is available on the IHS DBH webpage.
IHS Area Director/Chief Medical Officer Meetings
Posted on September 26, 2012
The IHS Area Directors and Area Chief Medical Officers held a joint meeting in August to continue progress on agency priorities with a focus on key clinical and administrative issues. Here are some pictures from the meeting:
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IHS Tribal Consultation Summit: Other Meetings
Posted on September 26, 2012
During the same week as the IHS Tribal Consultation Summit, several other meetings were held for the convenience of the attendees, which helped save on travel costs for many. The other meetings included the Tribal Leaders Diabetes Committee, the National Tribal Advisory Committee on Behavioral Health, the IHS Directors' Advisory Workgroup on Tribal Consultation, and the HHS Tribal Consultation Meeting on the Affordable Care Act Federally-Facilitated Exchanges and the Medicaid Expansion. Here are pictures from those meetings:
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IHS Tribal Consultation Summit
Posted on September 25, 2012
IHS held its 3rd Tribal Consultation Summit in Denver in August. The purpose of the Summit was to provide a "one-stop shop" for Tribes to learn about IHS consultation activities. The final agenda is posted on our Tribal Consultation website. Here are some pictures from the event:
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IHS National Director's Awards
Posted on September 25, 2012
I hosted the IHS National Director's Awards in Washington, D.C., in August to celebrate the accomplishments of our IHS, tribal, and urban Indian health program staff and partners. The event was held at the National Museum of the American Indian. Here are pictures from the event:
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Tribal Delegation Meeting: Tejon Indian Tribe
Posted on September 25, 2012
A Tribal Delegation Meeting was held with the Tejon Indian Tribe of California in July at IHS Headquarters in Rockville, MD. Here is a picture from the meeting:
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Tribal Best Practices Training Conference 2012
Posted on September 25, 2012
The 2012 Tribal Best Practices Training Conference was held in July in Salt Lake City, UT, and was an opportunity to share clinical best practices, care team integration, and health information technology activities used to improve patient care. The meeting was hosted by the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium and United South and Eastern Tribes. Here are pictures from the conference:
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IHS Albuquerque Area Listening Session
Posted on September 24, 2012
I attended the IHS Albuquerque Area Listening Session in July by phone, provided an IHS update, and answered questions. Here are some pictures from the session:
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AIDS 2012 Conference
Posted on September 24, 2012
I posted a blog that described my participation in the International AIDS Conference in Washington, D.C., in July. Here are some pictures I have been meaning to post from the International Indigenous Pre-Conference on HIV & AIDS and the Indigenous Networking Zone Global Village at the conference:
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IHS Phoenix Area Listening Session
Posted on September 24, 2012
We held a Phoenix Area Listening Session in July, during which I listened to issues and concerns from Phoenix Area Tribes, including Tribes from Arizona, Nevada, and Utah. Here are some pictures from the listening session:
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Request for Comments: FY 2011 Report to Congress/Tribal Self-Governance Program
Posted on August 28, 2012
I sent a letter to Tribes requesting comments on our draft Fiscal Year 2011 Report to Congress on Administration of the Tribal Self-Governance Program, as required by the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act amendments. Comments are due on October 19, 2012. Here is the letter [PDF - 26K] and the draft Report to Congress[PDF - 275K].
NCAI Health Fellowship Workshop
Posted on August 7, 2012
I attended the NCAI (National Congress of American Indians) Health Fellowship Workshop and presented on a panel with the National Indian Health Board and the National Council on Urban Indian Health. The audience included NCAI's inaugural Native Graduate Health Fellowship recipient, Lisa Begay, who previously worked as a dental hygienist in the IHS and who now is a dental student at the Arizona School of Dentistry and Oral Health. Other finalists and students who applied were invited to the workshop. Here are pictures from the workshop.
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IHCIA Implementation Update: Draft Urban Confer Policy
Posted on August 6, 2012
The recent Indian Health Care Improvement Act reauthorization included a provision that requires IHS to confer with urban Indian organizations. The new draft policy is posted in the Federal Register for comment, and was sent to Tribes for consultation. Here is a copy of the letter [PDF - 27K] to Tribes and a link to the Federal Register
posting.
IHS Tribal Consultation Update
Posted on August 3, 2012
The final agenda for the IHS Tribal Consultation Summit to be held on August 7-8, 2012, in Denver, CO, is posted on the tribal consultation website.
We have also posted several new tribal leader letters providing updates on consultation activities and have initiated a few new consultations. We have also developed a summary of all consultation activities initiated since June 2009 with brief updates on their status and outcomes. You can find those on our tribal leader letter website.
If the letter does not state a deadline for comments, then our practice is to request comments in 60 days from the date of the letter. Comments are always welcome addressed to me at IHS Headquarters in Rockville, MD, or by email to consultation@ihs.gov. Hope to see you at the IHS Tribal Consultation Summit!
Recent Posts
- Southcentral Foundation Valley Native Primary Care Center Opening
- HHS Secretary Trip to South Dakota
- IHS Tucson Area Listening Session
- Direct Service Tribes Annual Conference
- Contract Support Costs Consultation Update
- I Strengthen My Nation Campaign
- IHS Area Director/Chief Medical Officer Meetings
- IHS Tribal Consultation Summit: Other Meetings
- IHS Tribal Consultation Summit
- IHS National Director's Awards
- Tribal Delegation Meeting: Tejon Indian Tribe
- Tribal Best Practices Training Conference 2012
- IHS Albuquerque Area Listening Session
- AIDS 2012 Conference
- IHS Phoenix Area Listening Session
- Request for Comments: FY 2011 Report to Congress/Tribal Self-Governance Program
- NCAI Health Fellowship Workshop
- IHCIA Implementation Update: Draft Urban Confer Policy
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